Members of the Law Society met on 17th December for a special general meeting to consider a motion of no confidence in the Law Society’s leadership. The motion related to the strategy adopted by the Law Society to influence and ameliorate the government’s criminal legal aid proposals.
The motion was carried by 228 votes to 213 votes, with 9 abstaining. The Society issued the following statement:
‘The Society lost today’s vote by a narrow margin of 228 to 213. We have listened to our criminal legal aid members. There are lessons to be learned and we will reflect on these developments.
‘Council will be considering the outcome today. Our immediate priority is to continue to influence the Ministry of Justice in our members’ interests. We will continue to make it very clear to the Lord Chancellor that we remain opposed to cuts.’